But they picked their way expeditiously through the woods, and reached the beach without further incident. They were near the clump of trees which they recognized as that behind which they had hidden the boat when Clif stopped with a sudden exclamation. "Gorry!" he said, "I have forgotten that shell. It won't take but a minute to return for it." "What's the use, sir?" ventured one of the men. "As you said, we'd better let well enough alone, and not run any further risk for a shell that don't even explode." "That's just the reason I want it," said Clif. "That shell is more important than you might think. I'll----" But here occurred an interruption that opened up more startling possibilities, and drove the unexploded shell from the attention of all. It was in the shape of an exclamation of surprise and alarm from one of the men who had gone a few steps in advance of the others, and had reached the boat's hiding-place as Clif spoke. It arrested Clif's attention at once. "What's the matter?" he called, sharply. "The boat, sir," cried the marine, appearing from behind the bushes. "What of it?" "It's gone!" "Gone?" "Yes, sir." Clif, followed by the others, hastened to the spot. The man had spoken the truth. The boat, which was now their sole dependence, was no longer there. They looked in blank amazement at one another and at the spot where they had fastened it in fancied security. What could it mean? CHAPTER XXVII. IN WHICH CLIF MEETS WITH A SURPRISE. They were now in a perilous position. They could not return to the flagship, and at any moment the Spaniards, finding they were not pursued, might pluck up courage to seek them out and try conclusions with them once more. If they should find them on that narrow strip of beach the story of the conflict might be a different one. And then the disappearance of the boat itself pointed to enemies they had not counted upon. Who could have found and taken it? "Well, now we're in a pretty pickle," exclaimed Clif, when he became satisfied that the boat had really been taken. "Perhaps, sir, this is not the place where we left it," ventured one of the men, catching at that faint hope. "I wish you were right," said Clif, "but there's no doubt about it. The boat has been taken." "There's no doubt of it," the men echoed. "The boat is gone." But to make assurance doubly sure, they searched the beach under Clif's direction, examining every clump of bushes that was large enough to conceal the boat. But the result was a foregone conclusion. The boat was gone. "Now what's to be done, sir?" asked one of the men. What, indeed! "Something's got to be done," said Clif, with determination. "We've got to get off this island before daybreak. It's easy to dodge the Spaniards in the darkness, but entirely a different matter by day. Besides, we seem to have enemies down here as well as back there on the hill."